Ignitible composition



Patented Feb. 7, 1950 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE No Drawing. Application January 30, 1946, Serial No. 644,433

13 Claims. (01. 52- 29) g This invention relates to an ignitible composition which when made in any form and preferably in stick form may be conventionally blown out as by a persons breath and then reignited by friction as by rubbing against any predetermined or prepared surface.

The main object of the invention resides in the production and method of preparation of such a composition wherein repeated ignition involves easy and consistent striking effort; wherein the composition has sturdy and practical mechanical properties; wherein the composition is not subject to deterioration under normal conditions; wherein the composition upon ignition is capable of producing a prolonged, steady, illuminating and compact flame; wherein the composition upon combustion leaves no impairing residue to affect proper operation and/or glazed surface to interfere with reignition; wherein the composition is characterized by a slow rate of combustion; wherein the composition is not poisonous nor explosive in handling; and wherein the composition is practical and safe for operation in the hands of the user since combustion is progressive from the top downwardly, this characteristic eliminating the need for external coatings of substantially incombustible or slightly combustible materials.

A further object of the invention resides in the production of such an ignitible composition having a homogeneous and plastic-like structure throughout.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of the above said composition which is safe, economical and simple to produce.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Prior attempts to make compositions capable of repeated ignition and extinguishment by smothering, the blowing of a persons breath or by the rapid waving to and fro in the air have failed to benpractical.

Prior compositions in the form of sticks have been of two types: (1) sticks in the form of a solid homogeneous mass; (2) sticks in the form of a solid non-homogeneous mass.

In the homogeneous stick category, the nitrocellulose sticks proved to be too explosive; burned too rapidly; were dangerous in manufacture and in handling. The aldehyde sticks, in the solid homogeneous mass category and incorporating metaldehyde proved to be exceedingly poisonous and gave off snow. Aldehyde sticks incorporating hexamethylene tetramine as the bulk of the base have proved to be subject to deterioration by moisture and humidity and therefore weak in mechanical properties. Moreover, the raw materials for the aldehyde and hexamethylene tetramine sticks were expensive and the sticks themselves were not easy to ignite. Furthermore the aldehyde sticks had to be externally coated for safety reasons; otherwise they would burn through and be dangerous to the user.

In the non-homogeneous category of prior compositions, the sticks had many disadvantages. The core of the stick involved danger in manufacture; the manufacturing process of the product was difiicult; in operation, the cor burned more rapidly than the surrounding mass requiring the surrounding mass to be hand peeled for reignition purposes. Where metaldehyde was incorporated, the stick was exceedingly poisonous in operation. Moreover, three physically separable portions were used for manufacture, a core, a surrounding combustible mass and an outer coating. These non-homogeneous sticks were also expensive to manufacture and difficult to ignite by friction.

To overcome the above and other objections, the applicant herein has developed a repeatedly ignitible composition which during combustion evolves a flame in a manner similar to or at least simulating the mechanics inherent in the development of a flame by the wick of a wax candle, or the flame of a combustible taper or stick having wax absorbed therein. In the case of a candle, however, the wax mass serving as the fuel for the wick necessarily melts and thereby renders the wax mass of the candle malleable. In the composition herein the fuel for the bulk of or for the sole igniting material also melts but does not render the mass of the composition malleable because of its absorption by the said igniting material.

It has been found that the intimate mixture of a fibrous or absorbent material and a thermoplastic or mixture of thermoplastics in predeterminable proportions gives the best base for a repeatedly ignitible composition of the characteristics described. In the composition, the fibrous or absorbent material such as any substantially pure cellulose as alpha cellulose may serve as the only or the bulk of the igniting mass in conjunction with an oxygen carrier while the thermo-plastic apparently absorbed by the cellulose affords the fuel therefor since on combustion, the cellulose flame is stabilized, controlled for a slow rate of combustion, prolonged, made compact and illuminating. Moreover, the thermoplastic provides the physical function of a binder between the cellulose and the oxygen carrier without leaving any impairing residue upon combustion of the composition.

A repeatedly ignitible composition such as in the form of a stick to be practical is required to have non-melting characteristics on combustion if the stick is to maintain its form during operation and should leave no impairing residue and no glaze to interfere with reignition on striking the stick against a predetermined rubbing surface; and should have facility of ignition on rubbing against said surface.

Now, it is known that thermoplastic compounds like cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, or acrylics, vinylites, styrene and the like under heat soften and melt and with difficulty develop a flame, and because of incomplete combustion, leave a voluminous and impairing residue. In a mixture with an oxygen carrier, the qualities of these substances are substantially unaffected. Thus, the said thermoplastics. if used in the composition as an igniting ingredient interferes with proper operation. It is also known that the thermoplastics on combustion with or without an oxygen carrier liquefy and consequently leave a glaze which hinders reignition.

It is known that substantially pure cellulose burns with a. slow and non-illuminating flame; leaves substantially no. ash and does not melt and is not explosive with an oxygen carrier. Moreover, the cellulose decomposesabove 150 degrees C. and burns slowly because the. evolution of carbon dioxide reduces the flame. Cellulose in addition is insoluble in common solvents except specially prepared solvents and is not poisonous.

Because of the above properties of any substantially pure. cellulose such as alpha cellulose, the cellulose becomes ideally suited as the sole or main igniting ingredient of the composition ashereinafter more fully described.

The thermoplastic ingredient of, the composition should have adhesive qualities and in the absence of the cellulose could not serve as part of the base for the reignitible composition for the reason that it melts under heat and glazesover upon cooling thereby smothering the oxygen; carrier and preventing friction with the rubbing surface.

It has been found that any of the thermoplastics which are soluble in an organic solvent such as the acrylic and methacrylic resins, the

esters of cellulose and other derivatives when 4 mixed with a substantially pure cellulose in certain' proportions does not melt on application of heat. Thecellulose and the oxygen carrier in pulverized form and when intimately mixed and kneaded into a homogeneous mass with thethermoplastic dissolved in a solvent and in predetermined proportions constitute the composition of the invention herein. The thermoplastic leaves no residue on combustion; serves as a binder; increases combustion of the celluloseand controls and creates more flame and gives illumination-thereto. Moreover, the thermoplastic through its chemical structure seems to change the physical qualities of the cellulose by causing a swelling of the particles thereof to increase absorbent capacity. It is this absorption of the thermoplastic by the cellulose particles that prevents the composition from becoming malleable in operation. The thermoplastic within the particles when in molten condition serves as a fuel and a flame control for the cellulose in a manner equivalent to a waxed taper or stick heretofore mentioned.

For ignition purposes, the cellulose in the composition plays another role because of its reduction properties. Cellulose per se is soft and for ignition purposes it is not sensitive to friction. The thermoplastic of the composition also by itself is not sensitive to friction, but the combination of both as in the composition herein is extremely sensitive to friction for ignition. Therefore it is not mandatory to add such substances as glass powder, pumice stone, quartz meal and the like to increase frictional sensitivity and to reduce the rate of combustion of the composition. Such substances may however be added if desired to increase facility of ignition.

In the composition of the invention herein, substances for retarding combustion are not mandatory since the carbon dioxide of the cellulose evolved above degrees C. reduces the flame. The carbon dioxide also serves as a regulator and slows down the efiect of the oxygen carrier while the composition is under heat or combustion. On the other hand, cellulose at ordinary room temperature is inert. If desirable, other gas developing substances may be added to the composition such as ammonium bicarbonate but it is not necessary since the cellulose offers thev same function, and b controlling the cellulosic proportions, it is not necessary to use additional substances.

As a binder or to mold the composition, no extraneous substance is required since the thermoplastic performs this function and gives the composition excellent mechanical properties.

The composition herein in the form of a stick has excellent mechanical properties; does not deteriorate under normal conditions and burns from the top down. Even when the stick is inadvertently tilted, the sides do not ignite from the head flame.

Below is an example of the composition following the invention herein and which is easily ignitible on so called friction surfaces rich in phosphorus, the number of, the specific ingredients and the proportions thereof being elastic in accordance with the specificationand claims:

Parts by weight Potassium chlorate 5.5 Alpha cellulose 3.5 Ammonium bicarbonate 2.0 Powdered glass 1.5 Methyl methacrylate 4.0

In the above example, and for compounding the composition, thev methacrylate is dissolved in. a solvent such as. in twenty c. c. of acetone where the other. ingredients are weighed in grams. All the said other ingredients in. pulverized form may then be added to the methacrylate solution and thoroughly kneaded until a homogeneous mass, plastic in consistency, results: and with all the in.-

' gredients intimately and. uniformly distributed.

The plastic mass may be expanded to plates. by calendering and the plates thencuti t suitable pieces. The mass while plastic ma also be extruded through. a mouth piece of suitable form so as to obtain bars. or rods which are then. cut into sticks, 01: the plasticmass may be molded in presses. Following the. shaping and cutting of the plastic mass, the solvent'evaporates leaving a composition. of a plastic like nature' having the properties heretofore described. Although in the formation of the aboveexamp'le, potassium chlorate has been "specified as 'theoxygen carrier, it is understood that, allknown substances of this kind may be applied for such purpose as for example, potassium nitrate, potassium bi-chromate, le'ad'peroxide, lead nitrate, calcium plumbate', barium chlorate, 'etc., all of which have been referred to for such purpose in my previous Patent 1,903,838 of April 18, 1933.

In the example above set forth, powdered glass and ammonium bicarbonate were included as ingredients. 'These may be omitted and the composition will still operate for its intended purposes. Moreoven-other substances for their usual functions may be added to the composition in small quantities.-- Proportions of the ingredients in the composition-may also be varied within plus and minus 30% to effect intended results.

Inthe example above-illustrated, if the frictional-substance asglass and the extinguishing substance such as the gas developing ammonium bicarbonate are omitted, the content of the alpha cellulose is increased from 3.5 to about 4 in weight, the proportions of the other ingredients remaining'substantially the same. I may, for example, in connection with the formulation as defined vary the amount of alpha cellulose from 20.74% to 33.52% and the methyl methacrylate from 20.74% to 38.52% and the oxygen carrier which although specified in the illustrative example as potassium chlorate, may be any other oxygen producing substance, from 28.52% to 52.96%. Moreover, other substances may be added to the composition for conventional reasons used in the art, but in the invention herein, salts of copper, cobalt and the like may be introduced to create colored fiames.

The physical form of the composition is optional and may assume film, tape, stick, block or other shapes and may be applied to holders, mechanical appliances, chains and the like for more xpeditious operation.

I claim:

1. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rapidly to and fro and then reignited by friction, including a homogeneous organic base, comprising an igniting material the bulk of which is a substantially pure cellulose and a combustible thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, esters of cellulose and thermoplastic derivatives of cellulose in an amount in excess substantially of that required to adhesively bind the igniting material but insuflicient to cause glazing during combustion, bound in intimate mixture therewith to feed and control the flame of the cellulose upon combustion and an oxygen carrier intimately distributed throughout said base, the composition during combustion maintaining its rigidity, leaving no impairing residue and leaving no glazed surfaces.

2. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rapid- 1y to and fro and then reignited by friction, including a homogeneous organic base, comprising an igniting material the bulk of which is a substantially pure cellulose and a mixture of combustible thermoplastics selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, the esters of cellulose and thermoplastic derivatives of cellulose, in an amount in excess substantially of that required to adhesively bind the igniting materia1 but insufficient to cause glazing during combustion,

bound in intimate mixture therewith to feed and control the flame of the cellulose upon combustion and an oxygen carrier intimately distributed throughout said base, the composition during combustion maintaining its rigidity, leaving no impairing residue and leaving no glazed surfaces.

3. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rap idly to and fro and then reignited by friction, includin a homogeneous organic base mass, comprising an igniting material, the bulk of which is substantially pure and pulverized cellulose and a combustible thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, esters of cellulose and thermoplasticderivatives of cellulose in an amount in excess substantially of that required to adhesively bind the igniting material but insufficient to cause glazing during combustion, absorbed and bound in intimate mixture therewith and thereby, the thermoplastic being adapted to fuel and control the flame of the cellulose on combustion and an oxygen carrier intimately distributed throughout said base, the composition during combustion maintaining its rigidity and leaving no impairing residue and no glazed surfaces.

4. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rapidly to and fro and then reignited by friction, including a homogeneous organic base mass comprising 29.63% of a substantially pure cellulose, 29.63% of a combustible thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, esters of cellulose and thermoplastic derivatives of cellulose bound in intimate mixture therewith and thereby, and 40.74% of an oxygen carrier intimately distributed through the said base mass.

5. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rapidly to and fro and then reignited by friction; in cluding a homogeneous organic base mass comprising 21.21% of a substantially pure cellulose, 24.24% of a combustible thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, esters of cellulose and thermoplastic derivatives of cellulose bound in intimate mixture therewith and thereby, 33.33% of an oxygen carrier intimately distributed throughout the said base mass, 12.12% of a combustion retarding salt and 9.09% of a friction substance both also intimately distributed through said base mass.

6. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rapidly to and fro and then reignited by friction, including an organic base mass comprising 29.63% of alpha cellulose, 29.63% of a methacrylate bound in intimate mixture therewith and thereby, and 40.74% of an oxygen carrier uniformly distributed throughout the said base mass.

7. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rapidly to and fro and then reignited by friction, including a homogeneous organic base mass comprising 21.21% of alpha cellulose, 24.24% of a methacrylate bound in intimate mixture therewith and thereby, 33.33% of an oxygen carrier uniformly distributed throughout the said base mass, 12.12% of a combustion retarding salt and 9.09% of a friction substance both uniformly dis- 76 tributed throughout said base mass.

8. A combustible composition as set forth in claim 1 having a friction substance added thereto and a combustion retarding salt.

9. A combustible composition as set forth in claim 1 wherein a friction substance and a salt which upon combustion. of the composition develops a combustion retarding gas are added to the base.

10. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or b waving rapidly to and fro and then reignited by friction, including an organic base mass, comprising an igniting material, the bulk of which is alpha cellulose and a methacrylate in an amount in excess substantially of that required to adhesively bind the igniting material but in sufiicient to cause glazing during combustion, bound in intimate mixture therewith, and an oxygen carrier uniformly distributed throughout the said base mass the said composition being of uniform cross section throughout its length.

11. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rapidly to and fro and then reignited by friction, including an organic base mass, comprising an igniting material, the bulk of which is alpha cellulose and a methacryalte in an amount in excess substantially of that required to adhesively bind the igniting material but insuificient to cause glazing during combustion, bound in intimate mixture therewith, anoxygen carrier uniformly distributed throughout said base mass, a combustion retarder and a friction substance both uniformly distributed throughout said base mass the said composition being of uniform cross section throughout its length.

12. A combustible composition which when made in a stick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving 8 rapidly to and fro and then reignited byfriction, including an organic base mass comprising from 20.74% to 38.52% of a substantially pure cellulose, 20.74% to 38.52% of a combustible thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins; esters of cellulose and thermoplastic derivatives of cellulose bound in intimate mixture therewith and 28.52% to 52.96% of an oxygen carrier incorporated intimately distributed through the said base, said composition being of uniform cross section throughout its length.

13. A combustible composition which when made in astick or other form may be extinguished by smothering, a persons breath or by waving rapidly to and fro and then reignited by friction, including an organic base mass comprising from 20.74% to 38.52% of alpha celullose, 20.74% to 38.52% of a methacrylate bound in intimate mixture" therewith and 28.52% to 52.96% of anoxygen carrier uniformly distributed throughout said base mass, said composition being of uniform cross section throughout its length.

FERDINAND RINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 136,953 Babcock Mar. 18, 1873 1,201,191 Jonas Oct. 10, 1916 1,529,322 Schapiro Mar. 10, 1925 2,015,383 Konig et al -1 Sept. 24, 1935 2,040,733 Fox May 12, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,939 Great Britain 1894 500,219 Great Britain Feb. 6, 1939 

1. A COMBUSTIBLE COMPOSITION WHICH WHEN MADE IN A STICK OR OTHER FORM MAY BE EXTINGUISHED BY SMOTHERING, A PERSON''S BREATH OR BY WAVING RAPIDLY TO AND FRO AND THEN REIGNITED BY FRICTION, INCLUDING A HOMOGENEOUS ORGANIC BASE, COMPRISING AN IGNITING MATERIAL THE BULK OF WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIALLY PURE CELLULOSE AND A COMBUSTIBLE THEROMOPLASTIC SELECTION FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACRYLIC RESINS, ESTERS OF CELLULOSE AND THERMOPLASTIC DERIVATIVES OF CELLULOSE IN AN AMOUNT IN EXCESS SUBSTANTILLY OF THAT REQUIRED TO ADHESIVELY BIND THE IGNITING MATERIAL BUT INSUFFICIENT TO CAUSE GLAZING DURING COMBUSTION, BOUND IN INTIMATE MIXTURE THEREWITH TO FEED AND CONTROL THE FLAME OF THE CELLULOSE UPON COMBUSTION AND AN OXYGEN CARRIER INTIMATELY DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT SAID BASE, THE COMPOSITION DURING COMBUSTION MAINTAINING ITS RIGIDITY, LEAVING NO IMPAIRING RESIDUE AND LEAVING NO GLAZED SURFACES. 